Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is having an unbelievable season just one year after tearing his ACL. / Brace Hemmelgarn, USA TODAY Sports

by Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports

by Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports

The way most folks see it, the NFL's comeback player of the year award is a two-horse race between Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson.

The way Peterson sees it, the race is over already.

"I kind of have that in the bag, especially how I've been telling people I'm going to come back stronger and better than ever," the Minnesota Vikings running back said, via The Associated Press. "So I've pretty much zip-locked that in a bag and sealed it. It'll be cool to win it."

With all due respect to Manning and what he's accomplished after missing all of last season because of neck surgery, we wholeheartedly agree with Peterson. This is a no-brainer.

Consider: Peterson tore his anterior cruciate ligament Dec. 24, 2011, then worked his butt off in the offseason to do what many believed he couldn't. He was ready to play by Week 1, a little more than eight months after suffering an injury that easily can derail, if not end, a running back's career.

And what has Peterson done since the season-opener? Perform out of his mind by rushing for 1,600 yards -- which by far leads the NFL -- and 10 touchdowns. Peterson has said he wants to break Erick Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, and at this point he is a legitimate threat with three games remaining.

This is just crazy, mind-boggling stuff to be happening one year after tearing an ACL.

Manning has been remarkable in his own right, throwing for 3,812 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while posting a 104.0 passer rating. But where Peterson runs away with this (no pun intended) is the punishment he takes. When Peterson's not blowing by the defense, he takes a beating almost every time he touches the ball, sometimes to that reconstructed knee.

But he just keeps on truckin'.

The only thing left to ponder is whether Peterson, whose Vikings are 7-6 and in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt, will be given serious consideration by voters to win the most valuable player award.

"The MVP, man, that's something that I've always wanted to grab," Peterson said. "I work hard. I want to be the best player to play this game, so with that, MVP awards come.

"But I know this league and how it is, man. They're kind of biased to the quarterback, which is unfortunate. They make it hard for other players to win it, but I will."